Local gun sales on the rise

Atlas Tactical co-owner/operator Brooke Stallings handles an assault rifle that is for sale in her shop near Newport, Va. on Tuesday Dec. 18 2012. The shop sells guns and gun supplies, and has seen a recent increase in sales. The reaction to the Connecticut school shooting can be seen in gun stores and self-defense retailers across the nation: Anxious parents are fueling sales of armored backpacks for children while firearms enthusiasts are stocking up on assault rifles in anticipation of tighter gun control measures.

AP

By LAUREN DELGADO / Daily News

Published: Friday, December 21, 2012 at 06:08 PM.

Local gun shop owners are seeing an increase in sales because of fear of a possible ban on assault weapons stemming from the Dec. 15 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday formed a team led by Vice President Joe Biden to come up with recommendations for new gun laws. Among the measures being considered is a ban on the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

The gun of choice for many residents has been the AR-15, a semi-automatic rifle. Jay Woodbury, owner of Jay’s Guns and Accessories in Crestview, attributed its popularity to media reports of it possibly being banned and the strong military presence locally. After years of carrying the gun, most people connected with the military feel comfortable with it, he said.

Woodbury said it is a versatile gun, useful for target shooting, hunting and home defense.

“It’s a weapon you can do anything you want to do with it,” Woodbury said.

Woodbury had four AR-15s delivered Thursday. They were the only ones in the store, and he expected to sell out by the end of the day.

His store usually carries more than 2,000 guns. On Thursday, only about 200 were left, mostly hunting rifles. The store also had a shortage of magazines and ammunition.

Some customers were buying the AR-15 in hopes of reselling it at a higher price if the gun is banned, Woodbury said.

Kurtis Kinsey, owner of Destin Guns Inc., said he had been stockpiling AR-15s since Obama’s re-election, citing the president’s stance on guns.

Kinsey estimated business increased by 100 percent this week. The store was selling about 50 AR-15s a day, and only 100 were left Thursday. He wasn’t sure when he’d get more in because the manufacturer was having trouble keeping up with the demand nationwide.

“There’s not enough supply to meet the demand,” Kinsey said.

Steve Ferris, owner of Steve Ferris’ Firearms in Navarre, said the store basically was sold out, with only about nine guns in stock Thursday. He sold his last AR-15 on Wednesday. Ferris said the manufacturer estimated the next shipment wouldn’t be in until mid-January.

“I think a lot of it is because everybody is a little bit paranoid right now,” he said.

Last week’s shooting simply spurred an already rising demand for weapons, which Ferris said began when Obama was re-elected.

“That’s when business began to increase dramatically,” he said.

It’s easy to demonize the AR-15 and other assault rifles, Woodbury said, but a gun can do only what the person behind it wants it to do.

“You can pass all the laws you want, only the law abiding people obey the law,” he said.

Kinsey said all his customers are either military or ex-military, and get a background check. He was more worried about secondary gun sales or stolen weapons.

“With the impending ban and with the fear of the ban, we’ve sold more of these types of firearms now, these automatic rifles, than we have in 10 years,” Kinsey said. “Now they’re out on the street.”

Local gun shop owners are seeing an increase in sales because of fear of a possible ban on assault weapons stemming from the Dec. 15 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday formed a team led by Vice President Joe Biden to come up with recommendations for new gun laws. Among the measures being considered is a ban on the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

The gun of choice for many residents has been the AR-15, a semi-automatic rifle. Jay Woodbury, owner of Jay’s Guns and Accessories in Crestview, attributed its popularity to media reports of it possibly being banned and the strong military presence locally. After years of carrying the gun, most people connected with the military feel comfortable with it, he said.

Woodbury said it is a versatile gun, useful for target shooting, hunting and home defense.

“It’s a weapon you can do anything you want to do with it,” Woodbury said.

Woodbury had four AR-15s delivered Thursday. They were the only ones in the store, and he expected to sell out by the end of the day.

His store usually carries more than 2,000 guns. On Thursday, only about 200 were left, mostly hunting rifles. The store also had a shortage of magazines and ammunition.

Some customers were buying the AR-15 in hopes of reselling it at a higher price if the gun is banned, Woodbury said.

Kurtis Kinsey, owner of Destin Guns Inc., said he had been stockpiling AR-15s since Obama’s re-election, citing the president’s stance on guns.

Kinsey estimated business increased by 100 percent this week. The store was selling about 50 AR-15s a day, and only 100 were left Thursday. He wasn’t sure when he’d get more in because the manufacturer was having trouble keeping up with the demand nationwide.

“There’s not enough supply to meet the demand,” Kinsey said.

Steve Ferris, owner of Steve Ferris’ Firearms in Navarre, said the store basically was sold out, with only about nine guns in stock Thursday. He sold his last AR-15 on Wednesday. Ferris said the manufacturer estimated the next shipment wouldn’t be in until mid-January.

“I think a lot of it is because everybody is a little bit paranoid right now,” he said.

Last week’s shooting simply spurred an already rising demand for weapons, which Ferris said began when Obama was re-elected.

“That’s when business began to increase dramatically,” he said.

It’s easy to demonize the AR-15 and other assault rifles, Woodbury said, but a gun can do only what the person behind it wants it to do.

“You can pass all the laws you want, only the law abiding people obey the law,” he said.

Kinsey said all his customers are either military or ex-military, and get a background check. He was more worried about secondary gun sales or stolen weapons.

“With the impending ban and with the fear of the ban, we’ve sold more of these types of firearms now, these automatic rifles, than we have in 10 years,” Kinsey said. “Now they’re out on the street.”